Saturday, 19 November 2011

An End to Glue Ear?

Silicone plug in the ear of a child with glue ear

From the BBC: Scientists have identified a potential new treatment for "glue ear" - a common hearing disorder in children - that uses existing cancer drugs.

Writing in PLoS Genetics, researchers from the Medical Research Council found that these drugs relieved the symptoms of persistent ear inflammation in mice.

They say the discovery could lead to an alternative to grommet surgery for many children.

A hearing loss charity said it was an important step towards a new treatment.

The study says that several existing drugs currently used in cancer treatment, known as VEGF inhibitors, can tackle the root causes of 'glue ear'.
More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15386049

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